It Was Doomed From The Start... No Political Will To Resolve The Problem

Immigration Deal Fails In Senate
Conservatives' Amendments Cost Democratic Support; Leaders Vow to Try Again

None of the congress critters have really thought this issue through. The entire process of adding ridiculous amendments to a bill that had a fair chance of passing muster only shows two things:

1. The congress lacks the political will and courage to face the issues and develop a reasoned approach to solving the problems involved in our immigration fiascos; and

2. There are fundamental flaws in the rules of the Senate and the House regarding how amendments are handled, bills are processed and what limits are put upon congress critters for acting like total asses.

I have written about proposals to limit how--and what--amendments could be attached to a bill... But no one listens to my voice in this desert.

Efforts to rewrite the nation's immigration laws collapsed in the Senate yesterday, renewing doubts about Congress's ability and willingness to tackle the complex, emotional issue in an election year.

A tenuous bipartisan compromise, announced a day earlier, fell apart when Democrats rejected conservative Republicans' demands for numerous changes, some designed to limit the number of illegal immigrants who could become eligible for citizenship. Trapped between the conservatives' demands and the Democrats' parliamentary powers to limit amendments, GOP leaders conceded a setback. But they vowed to try again when Congress returns from a two-week recess.

Several senators, including Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), expressed optimism. But Sen. Richard J. Durbin (Ill.), the second-ranking Democrat, said: "It's going to be a tough, uphill battle now."

Frist had hoped to settle the issue ahead of the large protests scheduled for next week in Washington and other cities by Latino groups and their allies. They oppose a House-passed measure that theoretically would deport the nation's 11 million illegal immigrants and penalize their employers. Some Democrats say the demonstrations will increase pressure on the Senate to pass more lenient legislation, but others say the delay might give opponents time to scrutinize the proposals and raise objections.

Most senators agree with House members that border security should be strengthened, and the bills being considered would pour money into that cause. Unlike the House, however, a majority of senators say some longtime undocumented workers should be given a chance to obtain legal status -- and possibly citizenship -- as a nod to the nation's demand for low-wage employees and to the unfeasibility of apprehending and deporting millions of people.

The problem lies in crafting a plan that can get the support of at least 60 senators, the number needed to block filibusters in the 100-member chamber. Frist thought he had achieved that feat Thursday with a bill dividing illegal immigrants into three categories. Those in the country five years or longer would begin a route to citizenship if they learned English and paid taxes and fines. Those in the country two to four years could apply for legal status after returning to a border crossing for document processing. The others would be subject to deportation.

But several Republicans, led by Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Jon Kyl of Arizona, insisted on numerous amendments. Among other things, they would deny legal status to immigrants who had committed crimes or skipped deportation hearings.

Minority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) said the amendments would allow Cornyn, Kyl and their allies to gut the bill's chief elements. "The people who were allowed to offer amendments are the people who hate this bill," Reid said of Thursday's compromise.

With any senator empowered to block the prompt introduction of amendments to the compromise bill, Reid agreed to only three. Frist demanded at least 20.

Meanwhile, anticipating a fierce battle with the House when it comes time to reconcile the two chambers' immigration bills, Reid insisted that the Senate conferees be the 18 Judiciary Committee members. The panel last month approved a measure similar to the Frist-backed compromise.

Reid cited earlier occasions in which Republicans excluded Democrats from important conference committee meetings. But Frist said it is "laughable" to think that a minority leader could dictate the majority party's committee appointees.